Fireplace damper



Nov. 3, 1931. C.A.QUIST 1,830,073

EIREPLACE DAMPER Filed May 31, 1950 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES CLAUS A. QuIs'r, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FIREPLACE DAMPER Application filed May 31, 1930. Serial No. 457,734.

This invention relates to improvements in fireplace constructions.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fireplace construction having a damper which is located at a point remote from the throat at the top of the fireplace cavity. Heretofore fireplaces have been provided with dampers but these dampers have generally been located at or near the throat at the top of the fireplace cavity. The presence of thecold damper plate in startinga fire in the fireplace seems to hinder the proper passage of smoke from the fireplace cavity into the flue until the damper plate becomes 5 warmed. Furthermore the surface presented by the damper plate at or near the throat tends to block to a certain extent the ready passage of smoke. By having the damper plate located remote from the throat I find that the flue'or chimney will draw at all times and in the improved construction it seldom if ever occurs that smoke is forced'into the room or apartment from the fireplace cavity.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 25 vide a novel operating mechanism for opening and closing the damper which is so arranged that the damper can be opened and closed from the top of the fireplace cavity. At the same time the construction is so con- 0 structed that the operating mechanism is no more visible from the interior of the room.

1 or apartment when in damper opening position than in damper closing position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a fireplace embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 22 upon Fig. 1.

amper is asso- Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the-lining confireplace may be constructed of brick, masonry, concrete, or any other material. It is shown asbeing constructed upon the hearth 10, having jambs 11 and 12, and a back 13, the upper portion of which is upwardly and forwardly inclined as indicated at 14, cooperating with the mantel 15 todefine a relatively narrow throat 16. Behind the mantel l5 and above inclined portion 14: of the back I form a relatively large chamber having 2.1.60 vertical back wall 17 a substantially horizontal bottom 18, an upwardly and rear wardly inclined front side 19, and upwardly convergent lateral sides 20. This chamber establishes communication between the throat 16 at the top of the fireplace cavity 21 and the flue or chimney 22. I provide a suitable lining indicated at 23 which may be a single casting or may be fabricated. This lining has its sides formed to fit snugly against the.:7c back, front, and side walls of the chamber 24. At the top of the lining there is pivotally mounted the damper plate 25, thepivots being indicated at 26. This damper plate is illustrated as being rectangular in form by 1 7,5 virtue of the fact that the flue 22 and the top of the lining and chamber are rectangular in horizontal section.

An operating rod 27 is pivotally connected to the damper plate 25 a short distance abovecso its pivots, this pivotal connection being loose or of such a nature as to permit the operating rod 27 to be swung laterally with respect to the damper plate 25 as well as brought forwardly with respect thereto. The lower endqtfr of the operating rod terminates adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of the lining so as to be substantially hidden from view from the interior of the room or apartment. This rod is positioned between the front wall ofi'90 the lining and a bracket 28 secured thereto. Small pins or lugs 29 are onthe operatin rod 27 and engage the top and bottom of the bracket 28 so that the bracket forms a guide for the'lower endof the operating rod dur-f. 9 ing its lateral movement. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the upper end of this bracket is disposed straight forwardly of the point of pivotal connection between the operating rod and the damper plate and from the up;

per ,end of the bracket, the bracket extends laterally. By having the bracket 28, constituting the guide, so arranged, the bracket compensates for the movement of the operating rod from its position in a vertical plane, as shown in Figure 2, to an inclined position so as to maintain the lower end of the operating rod at substantially the same elevation behind the bottom of the mantel. In this manner the lower end of the operating rod 27 is no more visible in damper opening position than in damper closing position. It will readily be understood that in swinging the operating rod toward the right from the position shown in Figure 2 that by virtue of the change in position the operating rod will effectively pull the damper plate, causing it to turn on its pivots and effectively close or partially close the top of chamber 24. A reverse movement of the operating rod will produce an opening of the damper.

It will be readily appreciated that the improved fire place construction is relatively simple and inexpensive. At the same time the damper plate 25 is located at a point remote from the throat 16, leaving the throat 16 free and unobstructed so that smoke and hot gases from the fireplace cavity 21 may readily pass therethrough. Furthermore I find that the shape of chamber 24 materially assists in causing the fireplace to draw properly and it effectively prevents down draftsbecoming effective to drive the smoke from the fireplace cavity 21 into the room or apartment. The damper plate may be readily opened and closed from the bottonrof the mantel and the operating construction is such that it remains substantially hidden in all positions so as not to detract fromthe natural ornamental appearance which may be given to the structure of the fire place.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fireplace construction comprising means provided a fireplace cavity, a flue, a chamber connecting the fireplace cavity with the flue, means providing a liner for the chamher having front, back and side walls and an open top and bottom, a damper plate p1votally mounted in the top of the liner, an operating rod connected to the damper and eapable of swinging laterally and pivoting w th respect thereto, said operating rod extending downwardly adjacent the forward side of the liner and terminating adjacent its bottom in a handle, and means providing an inclined guide on the forward side of the liner guiding the operating rod so as to restrict the movement of the handle to a horizontal direction whereby lateral movement ofthe operating rod will open or close the damper and the handle in either position will'not project downwardly below the bottom of the liner any greater than in any other position but at all times will remain practically concealed.

2. A fireplace construction comprising means providing a fireplace cavity, a flue, a chamber connecting the fireplace cavity with the flue, a damper plate pivotally mounted adjacent the top of the chamber, an operating rod connected to the damper plate and capable of swinging laterally and pivoting with respect thereto, said operating rod extending downwardly adjacent the forward side of the chamber and terminating adjacent its bottom in a handle, and means providing an inclined guide on the forward side of the chamber guiding the operating rod so as to restrict the movement of the handle to a substantially horizontal direction whereby lateral movement of the operating rod will open or close the damper and the handle will in all positions project downwardly about the same distance but at all times will remain practically concealed.

3. A fireplace construction comprising means providing a fireplace cavity, a flue, a chamber connecting the fireplace cavity with the flue, means providing a liner for the chamber having front, back and side walls and an open top and bottom, a damper plate pivotally mounted in the top of the liner, an operating rod connected to the damper plate and capable of swinging laterally and pivoting with respect thereto, said operating rod extending downwardly adjacent the forward side of the liner and terminating adjacent its bottom in a handle, an inclined bracket sccured to the forward side of the liner serving to hold the operating rod adjacent it, and a pair of studs secured to the rear side of the operating rod engageable with the top and bottom of the bracket whereby the bracket by virtue of its inclined position will restrict the movement of the handle to a substan tially horizontal direction and lateral movements of the operating rod will open or close the damper and the handle in all positions will. project downwardly substantially the same distance but at all times will remain practically concealed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CLAUS A. QUIST. 

